Questions for “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan
Name _________________________________
Questions on Subject and Purpose
1. What does the title “Mother Tongue” suggest?
2. List the different Englishes Tan describes, defining each.
3. Of her mother’s English, Tan writes, “That was the language that helped shape the way I saw
things, expressed things, made sense of the world” (par.7). How was the effect of her mother’s
English positive, and how was it negative?
Questions on Strategy and Audience
1. In paragraph 6, Tan quotes part of one of her mother’s conversations. Why?
2. After paragraphs 7 and 17, Tan uses divisions in her essay. How does she divide the essay into
three parts? What are the 3 parts?
